Contract bridge scorer



July 29, 1952 Filed Dec. '7, 1949 K. L. THOMPSON 2,605,049

CONTRACT BRIDGE SCORER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 am m CLUBS OR DIAMONDS 15 234567|23 +567 NOTRUMPIS 5 6 7 Z Z 3 a \QIHE CONDlTlON 1s DOUBLE]? N ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I v 2,605,049 I CONTRACT BRIDGE SCORER I Kenneth L. Thompson, United States Army Application December 7,1949, Serial No. 131,653

7 (Cl. 235-89) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

' 1 Claim.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a scoring device for readily indicating the total score for any contract bridge contract.

In the game of contract bridge the scoring is rendered somewhat diflicult because of the various' premiums, penal-ties, etc., which are applied in accordance with the success or failure of the bidder in playing the hand. Various attempts have been made to overcome this difliculty but they have met with little success partly because the large number of figures required to provide for all eventualities necessitates the use of a score card of unwieldy size, or that the figures be so small as to be illegible.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a scoring device on which all possible scores are concisely tabulated on a card of relatively small size, in combination with a slide bearing the various conditions of play, such as vulnerable, doubled, redoubled, etc., such indicia being repeated for no overtricks, "1 overtrick, etc.

A further object of the invention resides in combining with the chart and slide a lens of sufficient size and shape to extend throughout the length of the chart and render legible the figure representing the total score to be derived from the particular contract under the conditions at which the hand was played.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front perspective View of the complete device; and

Figure 2 is a rear plan view thereof.

More specifically, the numeral l indicates the score card proper which may be made of any preferred plastic and is of such dimensions that it may be readily carried in a purse or in a pocket of normal size garments; and the numeral 2 indicates a slide adapted to be moved across the chart bearing card I. The slide may also be formed of any preferred plastic.

On one face of the slide there is applied in the form of a column 3 the various conditions of play, such as vulnerable or not vulnerable, doubled, or undoubled, and redoubled; these indicia being repeated for no overtricks, one overtrick, etc. On the adjacent face of the card I are three multiple columns of figures, indicating the scores amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) for a no trump bid, the next column indicates the scores for a bid in hearts orfspades, and "lastly, a column for the scores .at various bids in clubs ordiamonds, The figures on this side of thecard maybe considered as a tabulation of the positive scores made in the actual playing of the hand.

On the opposite side ofthe card is a chart indicating possible scores by the opponents for under-tricks under various conditions of playsuch as vulnerable, not vulnerable, undoubled, doubled, etc. Also on this side of the card are indicia setting forth the various values of honorsin one hand, such as four a'ces in one hand and four or five honors in one hand. This side of the card also indicates the value of a rubber under various conditions and for having one game or part score in an unfinished rubber. The amount of data placed on this side of the card is relatively small and therefore may be printed in large type so that it may be readily observed for selecting the proper score. The adjacent side of the slide 2 is provided with indicia 4 for cooperation with the undertrick scoring.

The data which is applied on the first or positive score side of the card is rather voluminous and hence if the card is sufficiently small to be readily handled and transported in a convenient manner, the figures in the several columns must be printed in very small type. Therefore, in order that it may be easily read, slide I is provided with a magnifying lens 5 which is made of transparent plastic. The magnifying lens 5 extends throughout the height of the card I and is suitably inset into the forward vertical edge of the slide 2 as indicated by the numeral 6.

In the operation of the device when the play of a hand has been completed and it is desired to determine the total score made in the playing thereof, the particular condition of play is located on the slide 2 and the slide is then moved to the proper one of the three columns of figures, namely, no trump, hearts or spades, clubs or diamonds, depending upon the suit in which the hand was played. When the slide reaches the proper vertical column of figures the magnifying lens which is on the slide is then moved over the proper one of the seven vertical lines of figures in the particular column, such lines indicating the score for a bid of 1-7 inclusive. Thereafter the total positive score, which as already indicated, must be printed in relatively small type, may be read off through the magnifying lens. For instance, if the bidder bid three no-trump, doubled and not vulnerable, and made one overtrick, he would move the slide and magnifying lens to the first column of figures and align the magnifying lens with the #3 line of figures in that column and could then readily read off the score 200 below the line and 150 above the line representing the score of one overtrick doubled and not vulnerable plus a premium of 50 for keeping the contract. To the amount of 150 may be added a premium for honors, winning a rubber, etc., as appears in the last column on the opposite side of the card.

Should the player fail to make his bid the opponents score may be determined by consulting the side of the card having the various penalties for undertricks. For instance, if the player is short three tricks, and is not vulnerable but the bid was doubled and redoubled, the slide is moved to the right until the indicium 4 is positioned along the side of the third column of figures and the third number down, indicated bythe 3 on the slide, shows the score for the opponents to be 1000.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised. a contract bridge scorer which contains all possible scores; that the device is of such dimensions that it is readily manipulable inv use and may be carried about on the person, and yet is so designed that the scores may be easily located by means of the slide 2 in cooperation with the tabulated figures, and the small print (positive scores) read through the magnifying lens 5.

What is claimed is:

A contract bridge scorer comprising a card,

three vertical tabulations of figures arranged side by side on one face of the card indicating all possible scores on bids of clubs or diamonds, hearts or spades, and no trump, including overtricks, a slide mounted for lateral movement across the card and extending throughout the vertical length thereof, said slide adapted to be brought into registration with anyone of the three tabulations and having tabulated thereon the conditions of play such as vulnerable and doubled, etc., repeated six times and vertically arranged to correspond with the possible scores on thecard, said slide being rabbeted at the top and bottom of its inner edge, and a magnifying lens corresponding in length to the length of said slide and seated and secured in the rabbeted portion of the slide.

KENNETH L. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 540,184 Norris May 28, 1895 547,114 Graham Oct. 1, 1895 1,613,975 Bartlett et a1 Jan. 11, 1927 1,647,320 Thomas Nov. 1, 1927 1,957,112 Smith May 1, 1934 2,057,807 Whitmore Oct. 20, 1936 

